Albany, NY - Canisius forced 25 turnovers and held Saint Peter’s to three field goals during the final 10 minutes to earn a 65-58 win in the first round of the 2010 Citizens Bank MAAC Championship at the Times Union Center on Thursday.
No. 8 seed Canisius (12-18) advanced to the quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Marist (23-7). The Golden Griffins and Red Foxes are meeting in the postseason for the third consecutive season and fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Senior Ellie Radke had her fourth career double-double and third of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Brittané Russell had 12 points, three assists, one turnover and three steals in just 27 minutes as Russell was saddled with foul trouble in the first half. Freshman Allison Braun had 11 points – nine in the second half.
Saint Peter’s (11-19) opened up a 19-12 lead midway through the first half as Canisius started the game 3-for-14 from the field. The Griffs then made four straight shots and scored 11 consecutive points – getting seven from Radke during that stretch along with baskets from Ashley Durham and Micayla Drysdale — to go up 23-19. The Griffs held Saint Peter’s to three field goals during the final nine minutes of the first half and went into the locker room with a 30-25 lead.
The Griffs pushed their lead to nine points on two occasions early in the second half, capped by a strip and steal from Tasia Lee, who found a wide-open Braun under the hoop to go up 39-30. The Peahens made their run during the next six minutes, putting together a 14-4 run with a 3-pointer from Alena Ali giving Saint Peter’s a 44-43 lead with 10:34 remaining.
Canisius came right back and a turn-around jumper from Braun put Canisus ahead for good. The Peahens made three field goals during the final 10:34 of the game as Canisius forced six consecutive turnovers and went up 53-46 after four straight points from Lee.
The Griffs went 25-for-38 from the free-throw line on the day but struggled late in the game that included a stretch of 3-for-8. Canisius did make four free throws in the final 15 seconds to ice the game.
Ali led Saint Peter’s with 15 points as four Peahens reached double figures. Charlene Riddick had 12 points and nine rebounds while Jynae Judson had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.